1st T20I: India's Second Line Stars Look For A Breakaway Series Against South Africa

As India firmly embraces a transition phase, a clutch of second line stars such as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will be hoping for a breakaway series in four T20Is against South Africa, starting with first contest here Friday.

It is imperative for m to shed tag of sidekicks and establish mselves as first-choice players in this format.

recent home T20I series against Banglesh was a precursor. Samson received a chance to open consistently against neighbours, and he me most of it slamming a 47-ball 111.

In post- Rohit Sharma era in T20Is, Samson would like to furr buttress his claim for a regular opening slot with a few fruitful outings against Proteas.

This is an important series for Abhishek as well. dashing left-hander showed his impressive skills while hammering a 47-ball hundred against Zimbabwe at Harare in July, but his or six international innings have produced – 0, 10, 14, 16, 15, 4.

Abhishek will be keen to be more consistent to safeguard his place, and he will also be looking to be more penetrative with his left-arm spin.

Tilak Varma offers a similar case. left-hander has somewhat fallen off rar after making a solid beginning to his T20I career against West Indies in August 2023.

Since n, his 12 outings in shortest format have produced just one fifty and has t featured in blue jersey after appearing against Afghanistan earlier this January.

So, Hyderabi will be keen to impress selectors with some meaningful efforts against Africans, and he has also started using his off-spin more regularly.

This series also offers an excellent opportunity for wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma, who has slipped a few rungs below in pecking order, and spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who impressed against Banglesh taking five wickets, to keep mselves afloat over competition.

selectors will also closely monitor how a new-look pace bowling unit – Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Yash Dayal – fare against South Africa.

While Arshdeep and Avesh have ir moments at top-level, Vyshak and Dayal will look to carry ir success in domestic circuit and in IPL to international cricket.

Ramandeep Singh, who was retained by Kolkata Knight Riders after a productive IPL 2024, will be er to replicate his success here.

Ramandeep brings to table exciting multiple skillsets – a daring batter down order, useful medium pacer and a gun outfield fielder.

seniors in side like skipper Suryakumar Yav , all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, only member from Test side here, will be hoping for a strong outing so that India can apply some balm over wounds from ir recent home series defeat against New Zealand.

On a personal level, four players – Arshdeep, Avesh, Jitesh and Vyshak – will want impact outings here after t getting retained by ir respective franchises ahe of IPL mega auction vember 24 and 25.

All or 11 players in side have mand to get a retention from ir IPL teams.

South Africa will be looking to d a touch of revenge to series after losing to India in T20 World Cup final in June, last time se two sides met.

Teams (from) India: Suryakumar Yav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Dovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Patrick Kruger, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla (3rd and 4th T20Is), and Tristan Stubbs. Match starts at 8.30pm IST.